Adjustable flue-thimble.



PATENTED JAN. 27, 1903.

0. J. KIRGH. ADJUSTABLE FLUE THIMBLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1901.

H0 MODEL.

GHARLES JOSEPH KIRCH, OF KEOKUK, IOWVA.

ADJUSTABLE FLUE-THIMBLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,232, dated January 27, 1903.

Application filed August 19,1901. Serial No. 72,572. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES JOSEPH KIROH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Keokuk, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Flue-Thimble, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to thimbles for chimney-flues; and the purpose of the present im provement is to provide simple and effective means for adjusting the timbles to accommodate different sizes of pipes, the adjusting means being readily separable, so that a number of the thimbles can be nested, and consequently pack close and take up less room in bulk and also adapted to come under a much lower freight classification.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts,-which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a flue-thimble embodying the features of the invention and showing the extremities thereof joined. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the thimble as shown arranged by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View showing the extremities of the thimble separated.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a thimble constructed of suitable sheet metal and having separably and adj ustably connected extremities 2 and 3. The extremity 2 is formed with a pair of tongues 4, projecting directly away from the end edge 5 thereof, and the extremity 3 is formed with a series of slots 6, having the metal adjacent thereto struck outwardly to provide sockets 7. The slots and sockets are arranged the same distance apart as the tongues 4t and are circumferentially alined adjacent to the opposite edges of the thimble. In the thimble as shown the opposite edges have flanges 8, and those of the extremity 3 are cut away to provide a reduced terminal 9 to fit under the extremity 2 when the maximum adjustment is made and insure a more stable jointure under such conditions. When the extremity 2 is moved over the extremity 3, a greater portion of thelatter extremity lies under said extremity 2, and the extent of the extremity 3 under the extremity 2 will depend solely on the distance of the slots 6 from the end of said extremity 3, the flanges on the end 3 being slightly flared to permitthe flanges on the end 2 to pass on the inner faces thereof, as shown in Fig. 1.

In connecting the two extremities of the thimble the end provided with the tongues is arranged at a slight angle to the end having the slots in order to facilitate the passage of the tongues through the slots, and when the ends of the thimble are brought to their proper position, as shown in Fig. 2, the tongues will be carried outward into the sockets, and as the stovepipc when arranged within the thimble will prevent such inward movement of the tongues it will be apparent that it will operate to lock the extremities of the thimble in engagement with each other. It will be understood that when the pipe is pushed through the thimble the tongues will be pressed outwardly into the sockets 7, and thus no inward projection to obstruct the entrance of the pipe will be provided, the sockets 7 being made sufficiently long to receive the tongues 5. The extremities 2 and 3 can be quickly adjusted to reduce or enlarge the thimble to compensate for difierent sizes of pipes, and when the thimble is inserted in the chimney-flue it will be positively held in its adjusted position, as will he obviously apparent, and it is therefore unnecessary to use solder or other means for holding the extremities in engagement, and hence the improved thimble can be very easily adapted to pipes of different sizes.

Another great advantage of the present construction is that the thimbles can be separated and closely packed or nested in bulk, and thereby reduce the space of occupancy ordinarily taken up by the common form of thimble and also cause the said thimbles when so arranged to come under a much lower freight classification, which is a very important item and advantage.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is i 1. A flu e-thimble provided at one extremity to permit the latter to lie at the outer face of a stovepipe, whereby the tongue is locked in its engaging position when the stovepipe is within the thimb1e,substantially as described.

2. A thimble having one end thereof formed with tongues and the other end being provided with slots through which the tongues project, said slotted end having recesses or sockets at its inner face to receive the said tongues to permit the same to lie at the outer face of a stovepipe, whereby the latter will lock the tongues in engagement with the slotted end of the thimble, substantially as described.

3. A flue-thimble having one extremity provided with tongues and the other with a series of circumferentially-alined slots for removably receiving said tongues, said thimble having outwardly-extending flanges on its oppo-' 

